The Ritual Piercing

Piercing in a contemporary setting can be equated to a rite of passage in any given society. Van Gennep established the phases of a ritual process which marked it as a rite of passage. The phases are; a pre-liminal phase where the initiate is seen to ritually die so as to leave their old life, a liminal phase equated to limbo where the initiate is neither a part of the social group they came from nor a part of the group to which they are being initiated. The final phase is a post-liminal one where the individual celebrates their membership of the new social group and all that it entails.

A prospective piercee will, in most cases, go through similar steps. Before being pierced they will try to find out something about the process, through watching television or reading on the subject or, more often, asking someone who is pierced about the process. I am now in the situation where I literally cannot go to a night club without being asked by at least one person about my piercings.

Such background research is expected, especially concerning something seen as potentially dangerous and painful. In cultures which have rites of passage the young are brought up knowing much about the rituals or at least accepting them as part of life. As such, such investigations are part of the initial introduction into the piercing subculture required before someone will put themselves through the actual process of obtaining a piercing.

Once the decision to be pierced has been made the pre-liminal phase of the piercing rite of passage can be observed. Most professional piercers only pierce by appointment. The prospective piercee, therefore enters the studio, talks to the piercer and makes the appointment. From personal experience and numerous conversations with others I am aware that for most this is a time of agitation and excitement. I regard this whole period of time, from a day to over a week, as the pre-liminal phase of the rite. The prospective piercee is aware that they will soon be a part of a new social group and as such cannot fully include themselves in their old social group, also if people know someone is going to be pierced they may, and often do, treat the person differently depending on their view of piercing.

The liminal phase is entered once the piercing studio is entered for ones appointment. At this point the piercee is removed from external society and enters the artificially sterile studio. Everything initially is alien and, due to our medical system, impersonal. It is during this time that the greatest amount of visual ritual occurs, the language used is specific to piercing and, as such, often unknown; also the whole process of the laying out of materials, the preparation and marketing of the piercing all seem, and indeed often specifically are, ritualised. During this time the piercer will talk and try to reduce the fear of the initiate until the actual piercing occurs. The piercing of the flesh marks the transition from the liminal to post-liminal phase. The uncontrolled rush of endorphins and realisation that the process is complete heralds a change in the piercee. Relief that it is over and humour at the fear that had been felt, even pride that one is now pierced.

The leaving of the piercing studio heralds three distinct changes in the life of the piercee. The first, and most obvious, is that the caring for of a wound which is kept open artificially becomes important. This in itself may seem of little consequence, and indeed for most is little more than a necessary chore. However, I have found that for some the need to cope with the bodies reaction creates a greater empathy with their own body. This in turn can be very important for some people in learning acceptance of their own bodies. I must stress that though this is rarely a concern or driving factor for most people, in those people who have mentioned that piercing has had an effect on their reaction to their own bodies it has always been described as profoundly important to them.

The second post-liminal effect of being pierced is that it has on a persons immediate acquaintances. Reaction will generally be divided into those who accept the new acquisition and view it positively or even with an amount of jealousy or awe. Alternatively there will be a reaction from simple prejudice or a more basic lack of understanding. Either reaction cannot but help but affect and change, in some way at least, the life of the subject.

Thirdly the reaction of others to the new piercing will affect the subject, this is far more obvious in highly visual piercings such as facial ones. The reactions will be broadly the same as those of close friends. Some unpierced people will react negatively which, depending on the situation, may cause anguish to a greater or lesser degree. Heavily pierced people may react in either a positive or negative way. The piercing may provide a common area of interest which is able to be built on or ,alternatively, a negative reaction for numerous reasons including contempt or arrogance on the part of the other party.

These three changes to one's life cannot help but have some effect on anyone who is pierced and often, when extreme reactions are experienced, seem to have prompted people to move to one of two extremes, that is removing all piercings or becoming heavily pierced. Interestingly I have encountered a few people whose obsession with piercing has been fuelled by other piercees negative reactions. In all cases this reaction occurred when someone with very few piercings was accused of only being interested in piercing for fashion reasons, and reacted by getting more in order to prove their dedication.